Medical guidelines in Britain and the United States

Recently, the news that an expert number in Guangwai Hospital has been noisy to more than 4,000 has made a lot of noise. However, is it easy to see a doctor abroad? Stop it! I saw a post on Zhihu earlier. Please feel it.

The following is from Zhihu netizen Dr. Lu:

For example, one day you have a stomachache and want to see the gastroenterology department. /kloc-Make an appointment at the doctor's office in 0/0 days. Of course, the doctor gave you a gastroscope. Then you went to the endoscopy center with a gastroscope appointment form ... and then you made an appointment for a gastroscope two months later. What do you say, wtf? Two months? In fact, this is not a long time ... this is the situation of public hospitals.

I can't stand it anymore, so you have to go to a famous private hospital in the city. After you went, you found that there were not so many patients here, so you can check them on the same day. But how much does a gastroscope cost? I said a conservative figure, 200-300 knives, equivalent to 2000 RMB.

I have never been to the United States and have never experienced medical treatment there. However, our army consulted the returnees around us and popularized the medical care for international students. The following British and American medical guidelines are for your reference!

Question 1: Is it really expensive to see a doctor abroad? Solution: buy medical insurance! Buy medical insurance! Buy medical insurance!

United States of America

Go to the hospital to which the medical insurance belongs, see the doctor first and then pay.

In the United States, if you don't have medical insurance, seeing a doctor can make you poor in a second!

It is recommended that international students buy medical insurance when they enter school, and the premium generally ranges from 300 to 600 dollars per year. Generally speaking, you can buy insurance on campus, but the limitations are relatively large. If you have special needs, it is best to buy additional insurance outside the school. After purchasing medical insurance, you can enjoy free medical care.

It should be noted that the premise of enjoying free medical care is that the doctor you see must be the doctor to whom medical insurance belongs, and there will be several doctors to whom the general insurance company belongs. You can choose by yourself or be directly appointed by the insurance company. Hospitals in the United States pay for medical treatment first.

Unlike doctors in China, doctors in the United States generally have their own clinics and are affiliated with hospitals. Every week, they will spend about three days working in their own clinic and two days working in the affiliated hospital. Therefore, you should make an appointment with the doctor in advance.

Studying abroad strongly suggests that you stay in the United States and check your medical insurance before seeing a doctor. There are many kinds of medical insurance atmosphere in the United States, each of which has different requirements and restrictions, such as the limit of the number of medical visits per year, the limit of seeing a specialist, the number of days in hospital, the types of drugs purchased and so on.

Here are three common ones:

1.HMO plan: Most young people who work will have this plan, because it is cheaper and better ~ but there are many restrictions on patients ~ ~ For example, they can only see doctors several times a year (usually 10 times), stay in hospital for only a few days a year (usually one or two weeks), and see some specialists to prescribe some commonly used drugs (generally excluding drugs that have been on the market for several years).

2.PPO plan: this plan is relatively expensive, and the restrictions on the number of visits and the number of days in hospital are greatly reduced. You can see almost any doctor you want. Compared with HMO, fewer people have such plans ~ ~

3. Student health service: it is a plan given by the school to students. Generally speaking, there is no limit to the number of times a student health service can see a doctor, but there may be a limit to the number of times he visits a specialist or is hospitalized ~ ~

In addition, medical insurance does not cover all physical diseases and organs, such as ophthalmology and dentistry. Pulling out a tooth with a pair of glasses is probably not reimbursed.

Britain, England

Pay 60 pounds and enjoy free medical care all year round.

Let's talk about Britain again. (you repeatedly spit in the background, saying that studying abroad is biased towards the United States, okay ~ admit it! There are many American study abroad parties ~) British students enjoy NHS. Previously, the NHS was a public service, and most of the funds came from British taxes, so the British did not have to pay any other fees.

From April 6, 20 15, non-European students studying in the UK must pay an annual medical surcharge of 150, which will be involved when you apply. 150 looks expensive, but it can guarantee free medical care for one year! PS: Besides dental care and glasses.

Corrupt universities are sweet. After studying abroad, I found that most universities will recommend you to a nearby medical center, or directly give you a directory of NHS, and all the hospitals that can provide medical care are in it.

Question 2: Is it difficult to see a doctor abroad? Solution: Make an appointment in advance.

United States of America

Make an appointment in advance, and you will be fined if you don't arrive!

Except for emergency treatment and emergency care, medical treatment is made by appointment in advance. The difference between the two is that the former mainly deals with major diseases and is open 24 hours a day, which is expensive; The latter treats sudden ailments at a relatively low cost. One more thing: once you set an appointment time, be sure to be on time. If you can't go, please call 24 hours ago to cancel or reschedule, or you will be fined!

In addition, another advantage of filling in the information is to establish your personal medical group. There will be your health information, appointments, medical diagnosis and payment. If there are some minor ailments that are not urgent, the doctor can make timely diagnosis and treatment according to your file.

Before making an appointment, the infirmary may send you a document that new patients need to register and fill out, and return it in time after filling it out. If it is accepted as a new patient, it is also necessary to inform the name of the attending doctor selected by the medical insurance company so that the insurance company can pay for it.

You can also choose an insurance company to appoint a private doctor for you. When you are sick, except for emergency, whether it is within the medical scope of your personal doctor or not, you should generally contact your personal doctor first, and he will decide whether you need to transfer to another doctor for treatment. If you are seriously ill and need to be hospitalized, you can call an ambulance. You don't have to wait in line when you get to the hospital, but you have to pay for the ambulance. Of course, you can go to the hospital by yourself, but you usually have to wait in line first.

If you need an operation, you'd better ask the hospital if the doctor who will operate on you is within the scope stipulated by your insurance company. If it is within the medical insurance plan, all expenses are free, including three meals and escort. If not, you should communicate with the hospital and try to change a doctor within your own medical insurance, otherwise you will have to pay very expensive medical expenses.

Studying abroad feels the same as booking in advance and registering in China. Some people say that China's registration is a derivative of the American medical system.

Remember to bring your medical insurance card and credit card when you see a doctor, because most hospitals will require patients to fill in the name of the medical insurance company, insurance period and number when you see a doctor.

I'm not afraid of different languages. Hospitals have free translation services.

Britain, England

Provide the same-day treatment, and doctors can see a doctor.

Some clinics in Britain also provide the same-day consultation service. You can call or go to the clinic counter to apply for the same-day consultation.

If you encounter an emergency and can't make an appointment for the same day, you can choose an emergency clinic. In case of serious injury or immediate life-threatening situation, please call 999 to call an ambulance and provide your name, telephone number and address. According to NHS regulations, the emergency department of British hospitals is not allowed to refuse patients, and it is completely free, even without paying for medicine.

If you are too sick to go to the clinic, you can ask GP (General Practitioner) to make a house call, but it is recommended that you inform the doctor before 10 a.m. (except emergency) and tell the symptoms details. However, if it is not the time for diagnosis and treatment, some clinics will have staff on duty to make appropriate suggestions on your condition. Once it is very urgent and needs immediate treatment, you can go to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Question 3: Does it cost money to buy medicine?

United States of America

You don't need to take medicine immediately after seeing a doctor.

After each visit, I don't prescribe drugs and pay fees on the spot.

So where should I get the medicine? Usually, the hospital will record the nearest pharmacy, such as CVS, Walgreen or Target, to prescribe medicine for you, which will save time. After returning home, you can inquire about the cost and welfare explanation of various medical services through the insurance online account, and then make online payment through the hospital account.

This is good! Give you enough time to compare your choices. You can also save money that you shouldn't spend.

Britain, England

Scotland, Scotland and Wales are free for everyone.

England's NHS system is divided into four systems by region, so the requirements of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may be different. However, until 20 15, only England needs to charge for prescription drugs, Scotland, Scotland and Wales are all free, and patients do not need to pay any prescription drugs.

All patients in England 18 or above need to pay for prescription drugs, but they are all fixed. No matter whether you prescribe painkillers or other drugs, you should go to the pharmacy to get the medicine as long as it is prescribed by a doctor. From 20 14, 1 April, the pre-ion cost in England is 8.05, and this price will increase regularly.